SUBJECT –

VERB
AGREEMEN
T
 BASIC RULE:

• Singular subjects
must have singular
verbs.
Plural subjects take
plural verbs.
RULES ON
SUBJECT-
VERB
AGREEMEN
T
 1. The pronoun “YOU”
always takes a plural verb.
Examples:

 You were invited to come.

 You are asked to clean the room.
 You sing so well.
 2. If a sentence begins with HERE
or THERE, the verb agrees with the
subject which follows it.
Examples:

 Here are the ways on how to

preserve meat.
 There is a huge gap between the
rich and the poor.
3. If two subjects, one single and
one plural, are connected by
EITHER/OR
or NEITHER/NOR, the verb agrees
with the
Examples:
nearer subject.

 Neither the players nor the coach

is joining.
 Either the conductor or the
singers are attending the concert.
 4. A singular subject followed by
intervening words or phrases such as
WITH, AS WELL AS, IN ADDITION TO,
ACCOMPANIED BY, TOGETHER WITH
and
NO LESS THAN, takes a singular verb.
Examples:

 Jake, accompanied by his sisters,

is enrolling in PCC.
 Daddy, as well as my brothers, is
enjoying the party.
5. Singular subjects joined by
AND require a plural verb, except
when
they mean one thing.
Examples:

 Larry and Mercy are reading

novels.
 My teacher and friend is
here.
 6. Two singular subjects joined
by EITHER/OR or NEITHER/NOR
take a
singular verb.
Examples:

 Either Mommy or Daddy is

coming with me at the outbound.
 Neither Ferdie nor Dulce is
waiting for you.
 7. If a singular subject is followed by
a phrase containing a plural noun,
the
verb is singular.
Examples:

 One of the boys is yelling so loud.

 One of the members is against the
rule.
8. The indefinite pronouns
SEVERAL, FEW, BOTH, MANY ,
OTHERS are
always plural.

Examples:

 Both were asking to be

freed.
 Several are seeking
justice.
9. The indefinite pronouns SOME,
MOST, ALL, NONE are singular or
plural according to the meaning of
the sentence.
Examples:

 Some of the girls were absent.

 Some of the ice cream is left.
10. When any of the following indefinite
pronouns is the subject, the verb is singular:
EVERYBODY,
NO ONE, ANOTHER,
EACH, ANYBODY, NOBODY, EVERY,
NOTHING, EVERYTHING, ANYONE, EITHER, NEITHER,
EVERYONE, SOMEBODY, SOMEONE.

Example:

 Every man and woman in this hall

is a member.
 11. Expressions of time, money, weight,
and distance are singular even if the form
is plural.

Examples:

 Two years is a long

time to wait.
 One million dollars was given back
to the owner.
12. When the amount of money
refers to separate units, the verb is
plural.
Examples:

 Five 25-centavo coins were found.

 Sixty 100-peso bills were added to
the budget.
 13. The following words are
always plural: PANTS,
TROUSERS, PLIERS,
SCISSORS,
the SHEARS,
word PAIR TONGS.
is used, However,
the verb is singular.
if
Examples:

 The pants are torn into

two.
 The pair of scissors was placed on
the table.
 14. Certain nouns, though plural
in form, are singular in meaning
and therefore take singular verbs.
Examples:

 Mathematics is my favorite
subject.
 The latest news is alarming to the
public.
15. When the word is preceded by
A, it takes a plural verb. When it
is
preceded by THE, it takes a singular
Examples:
verb.

 A number of students are waiting

outside.
 The number of students outside is
not recorded yet.
16. When fractions are used, the
verb agrees with the object of the
OF PHRASE.
Examples:

 One half of the cake was

consumed.
 One fourth of the employees were
attending the seminar.
17. These nouns may be singular or plural in meaning:
ATHLETICS, GENETICS, POLITICS, GYMNASTICS,
STATISTICS. When the noun refers to an organized
activity, it is singular; when the noun refers to the
activities of individuals within a group, or to varied
activities, it is plural.

Examples:

 Gymnastics is very popular among

girls.
 The gymnastics shown in the field
today were outstanding.
18. The name of a
country is always
regarded as
singular.
Examples:

 The Bahamas has beautiful

beaches.
 Philippines is a wondrous
place.
19. Adjectives used as
nouns are considered
plural.
Examples:

 The poor are to be

helped.
 The efficient are what this country
needs.
20. Collective nouns may be singular or
plural depending on whether the individual
members
are acting individually or collectively. These
nouns are: COMPANY, GROUP, COMMITTEE,
CROWD, JURY, FLOCK, TEAM.
Examples:

 The committee is against the plan.

(acting collectively-singular)
 The committee are of different
opinion. (acting individually-
21. In the use of
mathematical expressions,
the following are
accepted:
Examples:

 Seven plus three is ten.

 Seven and three are ten.
 Five times two are ten.
 Five minus two is three.
22. Titles of books, plays,
articles, movies, etc. are
regarded as
singular even though words in the
title may be plural.
Examples:

 “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities”

is a story by D. Schwartz.
 “Great Expectations” is a must-
read novel.
 23. Names of organizations
take a singular verb when the
whole
organization is referred to, and a plural
verb when the members are referred to.
Examples:

 Lopez and Sons is a successful

organization.
 Lopez and Sons are holding a two-
day annual meeting.
24. If a sentence begins with the
expletive IT, the verb is always singular
even if the
subject that follows the verb is plural.
Examples:

 It is the schools which must

assume the responsibility.
 It is us who must take care of the
environment.
 REFERENCES:

• Communication Arts 1
• Essentials of English
• Complete Course in College English